The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, used his final address to the General Assembly to call for expanded solutions to forced displacement. Although the total number of refugees and displaced persons fell from 123 million to 117 million, Grandi warned that the world has not become safer, pointing to ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine and Myanmar.
The reduction in displacement figures is largely due to voluntary returns, especially from Syria and Afghanistan. Since December 2024, more than a million refugees have gone back to Syria, and two million internally displaced persons have returned to their communities. Grandi stressed the need to distinguish voluntary returns from involuntary ones, noting that the latter are often driven by desperation rather than genuine safety.
Grandi highlighted the urgent need for increased support for Syria, where UNHCR is providing cash assistance, shelter and documentation. He urged donors—particularly those in the Gulf region, Europe and international financial institutions—to step up funding for rebuilding infrastructure, restoring services and reforming the security sector. By contrast, the lower displacement numbers also reflect forced returns of Afghans from Iran and Pakistan. Grandi expressed concern that these returns deprive many Afghan refugees of protection, sending them back to an environment marked by widespread human‑rights violations and discrimination, especially against women.
Emphasizing that forced displacement is a complex phenomenon, Grandi called for a strategic response that offers protection and opportunities to both displaced people and host communities. He warned against restrictions, barriers and pushbacks, advocating instead for early intervention and support along displacement routes.
As he prepares to leave UNHCR after a decade, Grandi drew attention to the agency’s severe funding shortfall: a $1.3 billion deficit and expected receipts of less than $4 billion against a $10.6 billion budget. He urged donors to bridge the gap with early, flexible pledges for 2026 to ensure continued assistance for refugees and displaced persons worldwide.
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